Carpet sweeper



I. J. OWEN CARPET S WEEPER Nov. 3, 1931.

Filed Aug. 51, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Ira cl. Owen ATTORNEY;

l. J. OWEN CARPET SWEEPER Nov. 3, 1931.

'Filed Aug. 51, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [BEE-E [NLLNTOR Ira c]. Owen A TTORNEY Nov. 3, 1 931. a. J. OWEN r 1,830,443

CARPET SWEEPER Filed Aug. 31, 1925 3 SheetsShe at 5 [N VENTOR A TTORNE Y5 Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT-'OFFICE IRA I. OWEN, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 'BISSELL CARPET SWEEPER COMPANY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN CARPET SW'EEPER Application filed August 31, 1925. Serial No. 53,652.

This invention relates to improvements in carpet sweepers.

The objects of the invention are: First, to's'implify the construction of carpet sweepers by condensing and collecting the floor wheels and driving means for the brushes into independent units at each end of the sweeper casing.

Second, to improve such structure so that I the sweeper casing can be made in a simple box form and the other devices, the hardware, in an auxiliary frame can be readily attached thereto.

Third, to provide in such a carpet sweeper a floating stub axle for the floor wheels to facilitate the driving friction and broom action.

Fourth, to provide such a structure which is accessible for repairs.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation of my invention will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which shows preferred embodiments of my invention and certain modifications is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming. a part of this specification in which:

Figs. 1 and 1 are sectional views of a carpet sweeper minus the handle, the position and details of inclosed parts being shown by dotted lines. 1

Fig. 2 is an end elevation view from the lower end of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail plan-view of one of my improved driving mechanism units showing its relation to the end of an ordinary carpet sweeper casing, being the lower part of Fig. 1 in separated position.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3 with the parts in separated relation. 7 I

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the corner structure, still further enlarged, the parts a little separated, the detail ofthe method of assembhng being indicated by dotted position.

the inner side of the unit detailed in Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a detail elevation view of the cover piece for the floating axle disk structure.

Fig. 9 is a detail plan'view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modification of the support in which the extension of the casin is out 0E and the casing of the preferred orm made like a box.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view of the corner part of such structure as appears in Fig. 9 showing the snap-on feature of the ears of.the outer auxiliary frame bar.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view of the stub axle and support and the hub of the floor wheel and ball bearings.

Fig. 12 is a detail elevation view of one ofmy improved floating axles and support as .a single unit independent. of the supporting frame.

-Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view on line 13-13 of Fig. 12 showing the relation of the parts.

Fig. 14 is a separated view of a slight modification of the structure appearing in Figs. 12 and .13.

In the drawings similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

The various parts of the structure will be considered by their numerals ofreference. 1 is a carpet sweeper casing of the usual construction having ends 2 and side bars 3 with side bar extensions 4 as seen in Fig. 1. A modified form of attaching the auxiliary frame is shown with square end construction of casing in Fig. 1.

posed outside of and embracing the bar extensions 4, the same being formed with a depression 52 to receive the sweeper buffer and extended into a nailing lug to receive the removable attaching nails 54. The end 61 of the frame member 6 being disposed within the extension 4 and the end 51 of the frame bar 5 being disposed outside of the same makes a very strong connection to the case of the carpet sweeper, see details in Fig. 5. This is a separable unitary structure capablev of being made as a separate piece of hardware for attachment to any suitable case. It

is attached to and removed from the case the same as a separate piece of hardware by withdrawing the nails or screws by which it is secured.

I have illustrated a modified means of attachment in Fig. l the structure being the same. I have detailed this attachment in Figs. 9 and 10. v

The frame member 6 is extended to the width of the casing and then turned outwardly at 61 which corresponds to the outturned portion 61 of the preferred structure described. The outer frame bar 5' is comparable to the bar 5 and has an inturned end 51 exactly comparable to the structure 51 except differently perforated. The part 51' is perforated at 53' and there is an outturned lug 69 struck out from the part 61' which engages the perforation 53' which snaps over it, the steps of the process being indicated in Fig. 10.

With this structure the mechanism is enclosed in'the auxiliary unitaryframe adapted to attach to a square ended casing. This shows the ready adaptability of the structure of this auxiliary frame.

At the center of the bar 5 I show the bearing 7 with center pin 71 for the end of the brush 8 which carries the brush Wheel 81 which is driven by the floor wheels 9. The floor wheels 9 have the usual hubs 91 with the ball bearings 92,'the case of which is provided with the arm 93 which connects with the end 135 of spring 13 in the usual manner of the Bissell carpet sweeper. The spring and ball bearing device are the usual construction and like that appearing in U. S. Patent No. 877,852, issued Jan. 27, 1908, to Mason and Shanahan. A floating stub pin axle 10 is provided for the hub of each floor wheel and has a floating support which comprises the floating carrying disk 101 which is disposed in casing shell 11 integral with the frame 6, having cover plate 12 which embraces and retains the disk; 101 in place. These parts are detailed in their simplest form in separated relation in Fig. 11.

The hub 91 is shown with thrust bearing part 94. A thrust bearing washer 95 is provided having a hub-like center 96 which extends through the semielliptical aperture 112 in the casing 11. This permits of the free movement of the disk 101 in the plane of its support and a complete yielding adjustment of the floor wheel under the action of the spring to do its work in the usual way.

The floating disk 101 is provided with rounded antifriction projections 102 on both faces to facilitate its travel within the shell casing. These antifriction devices may be omitted.

The cover plate 12 has a lug 121 fitting notch 111 in the casing 11 where it is secured by upsetting the metal as by riveting in place and a perforated ear 122 fitting notch 112 in case 11 which retains it in place. The perforated ear 122 serves to correctly locate the round nail that serves as the dust pan pivot. The floating stub axle 10 is supported by the floating disk 101 within the case 11. The axle 10 projects through the opening 112 in the outer side of case 11 which permits the required movements to accommodate the spring action of such a carpet sweeper as a Bissell.

The frame member 6 has end extensions 63 extending across the end of the casing as already pointed out. It has an upwardly and angularly' extended central portion 64 (see Figs. 2 and 7.) and lateral horizontal 'extensions 65 (see Fig. 4) and then extended upwardly into what is known as the horseshoe member 66 terminating at its upper edge in a notched handle rest 67 for the handle of the carpet sweeper. The upper central portion 64 is perforated at ,68 for the attaching screws. (See Fig. 2.)

The spring 13 is disposed in the horseshoe in the usual manner bythe attaching lugs 134 on frame member 6, see Fig. 2. The spring 13 has central loop 131, outwardly extending portions 132, and oblique lateral portions 133 bent at 135 to engage with the arms 93 of the ball bearing cases 92. This spring 13 and the ball bearing part is of the usual well known Bissell carpet sweeper type illustrated in the Mason and Shanahan patent above cited. Its organization into the unit is new.

In Figs. 12 and 13 a modification appears in which a single axle support is shown as a unit. An external disk 104 is secured to stub axle 10 to assist in guiding the same and excluding dirt from the disk supporting chamber. This single unit case is in two parts,v

snapped together and retained by suitable nails through projecting ears. The casing parts are shown separated in Fig. 14.

From this description it will be seen that my improved structure comprises an auxiliary casing at each end of the carpet sweeper casing. It enables such to be-produced as an independent unitary structure. The woodworking done is simply to make a box. The mechanism unit is done in metal assembled independently of the casing and attached to the box or main casing as a piece of independent hardware by screws through the inner member of the casing and by attaching nails through the extension on each side of the casing. The parts are readily separable by withdrawing the nails 54 (see Fig. 5) and then removmg the screws.

In the claims I shall refer to the main casing and the auxiliary frame as I have here indicated.

I have described my invention indetail in the form preferred by me. \7

It is clear that any floating support that would carry the stub axle within the supporting casing would accomplish the result and I, consequently, desire to claim this fea- 3. In a carpet sweeper structure, the combination of a floor .wheel, a floating stub axle therefor, a floatingdisk to carry the said floating axle, a shell with apertured side forming a chamber embracing the said disk by its opposed walls whereb 1t is guided and free to move in the plane of said disk, coactin as specified.

h 1(11 witness whereof I have hereunto set my I IRA J OWEN.

ture broadly and also to claim the specific devices as pointed out in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a carpet sweeper structure, the combination of a main casing, a frame disposed at the end thereof comprising an inner mem her having laterally extending arms and an upwardly extending central portion conformed to receive the pressure spring for the floor wheels, at doubled and laterallv extending pressure spring. floor wheels, floating stub-axles for the said floor wheels, float ing carrying-disks for the. said stub axles,

a shell formed on the inner auxiliary frame member apertured on its outer side to support and accommodate the movements of the said stub axles when acted upon bv the spring, bearing members surrounding the hubs of the said floor wheels and having extensions .to engage with the said spring, said floor wheels being adapted to drive the sweeper brush. an outer auxiliary'frame member attached to said laterally extending arms. a central pivot secured to the said outer member for the floor brush, and a sweeper brush with suitable wheel disposed to be acted upon by the floor wheels, as specified. y

2'. In a carpet sweeper structpre, the combination of a main casing. a frame disposed at the end thereof comprislng an inner member having laterally extending arms and an ,.upwardly extending central portion conformed to receive the pressure spring for the floor wheels, a doubled and laterally extending pressure spring, floor wheels, floating stub-axles for the said floor wheels, floating carrying disks for the said stub axles, a shell formed on the inner auxiliary frame member apertured on its outer side to support and accommodate the movements of the said stub axles when acted upon by the spring, said floor wheels being adapted to drive the sweeper brush, an outer auxiliary frame member attached to said laterally extending arms. a central pivot secured to the said outer member for the sweeper brush, and a sweeper brush with suitable wheel, disposed to be acted upon by the floor wheels, as specified. 

